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This blog discusses the life and works of Hank Williams, his contemporaries, and musical descendants.

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Emmylou Harris: On the Death of Hank Williams

March 4, 2009 by ahankwilliamsjournal

In connection with my last post, I came across  the lyrics to a song about the death of Hank Williams released by Emmylou Harris. The song is from a 1990 album called ‘Brand New Dance’ which according to Amazon has been discontinued. However the album and song are available as MP3 downloads. Here are the lyrics. 

Rollin’ and Ramblin’ (The Death of Hank Williams) written by (Robin Williams/Linda Williams/Jerome Clark)

Folks in Nashville slammed the door
Said we don’t want you anymore
Find your own way down the road
Pack your fiddle and your guitar
Take a train or take a car
Find someone else to keep you from the cold

Rollin’ and ramblin’
Women loved him half to death
He sang with whiskey on his breath
His heart broke like a child’s.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
The sun has set out on the trail
The hobo’s drifted up the rail
He’s taken his last ride.

Oh, he always sang the blues
Like it was all he ever knew
He didn’t sing at all that night
He was pale and as he dozed
He didn’t know his time had closed
Slumped in the back seat to the right.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
Women loved him half to death
He sang with whiskey on his breath
His heart broke like a child’s.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
The sun has set out on the trail
The hobo’s drifted up the rail
He’s taken his last ride.

So they send him on night train, South
Through the cities and the rural routes
Just one more place to go
Ah, the whistle sang the bluest note
Like it came from his own throat
Moanin’ sad and cryin’ low.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
Women loved him half to death
He sang with whiskey on his breath
His heart broke like a child’s.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
The sun has set out on the trail
The hobo’s drifted up the rail
He’s taken his last ride.

Rollin’ and ramblin’
The sun has set out on the trail
The hobo’s drifted up the rail
He’s taken his last ride.

I’ve always been an Emmylou Harris fan and my vinyl collection has a few of her great albums from the ‘Luxury Liner’ period.

Of course Emmylou had an early relationship with Gram Parsons the late tragic musical figure who headed up one of the greatest Country Music groups of all time, The Flying Burrito Brothers, who fulfilled the legacy of Hank Williams more than any other country artists I can think of right now. I have their double vinyl album from many years ago.

I don’t know anything about these songwriters, but the lyrics to this song pretty much capture the lonely, tragic, and yes  betrayed and abandoned last days of Hank Williams.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Emmylou Harris, Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Hank Williams, Rollin and Ramblin (The death of Hank Williams, The Death of Hank Williams | 4 Comments

4 Responses

  1. on July 23, 2010 at 5:52 pm Emmylou Harris blog sets ambitious goal « A Hank Williams Journal

    […] wrote a post about this song quite a while ago. Here it […]


  2. on August 4, 2010 at 5:25 am Beecher O'Quinn jr

    I haven’t listen to the song about the death of Hank Williams,by Emmylou Harris I’m sure that it is a good
    song.How ever i would like to set the record stright
    Hank Williams was not drunk 24 hour 365 days a year.
    like a lot of people that write books protray him to be.
    that is one tune that i’m sick to death of hearing.if you
    are going to write about some body do your home work get the true facts don’t print hear say.He did get drunk at times.how ever he did not write all of those great song
    and become country music greatest Legend by being drunk.
    I have researched his music and life story’s for over 50 years,interviewed band members, family,business associates,country music artist that knew and worked with Hank,Little Jimmy Dickens,Billy Walker,Jimmy Davis just to name a few.My name is Beecher O’Quinn Jr i’m president of the International Traditional Country Music Fan Club also.co founder of the Hank Williams fan club in Georgiana,Al
    and spearheaed the petition drive to put Hanks photo on a commemorative stamp back in 1993.for more information contact the international Traditional Country Music Fan Club 101 Cripple Creek Rd.Watauga,Tn 37694


  3. on August 4, 2010 at 10:17 am ahankwilliamsjournal

    Hi Beecher

    Thanks for the comment.

    If you read some of the posts in this blog you will find I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.

    How many radio shows did he do?

    How many personal appearances did he make?

    How many recordings did he make?

    How many songs did he write?

    I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I know from my reading and limited study, that no 29 year old man could be a drunk and accomplish what he did in those few short years.

    My theory is that his breakdown (would you call it that?) in 1952 has been used as a model for his whole life.

    Even then his appearances in 52 on TV were great, and he wrote several of his greatest songs.

    Check this

    https://ahankwilliamsjournal.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/major-hollywood-motion-picture-on-hanks-life-announced/

    And this

    https://ahankwilliamsjournal.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/the-death-of-hank-williams-new-film-will-examine-lonely-final-days/

    A few others too.

    I think Bill Korn did the fairest biography.

    John W


  4. on May 17, 2012 at 10:25 am susanjsimpson

    I would love the original words to “The Death of Hank Williams” song



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